from a news item :
"Only North Dakota, Minnesota and Manitoba have big populations of the
species [Platanthera praeclara Sheviak & M.L. Bowles]
... the western prairie fringed-orchid ... found in the Red River Valley.
This orchid is one of four Minnesota plants listed as federally threatened,
but can be found in abundance on the beach lands making up the eastern
shore of glacial Lake Agassiz in Polk County, Minn.
...
It grows in the tall-grass prairies of seven states and provinces, but only
three have large populations: North Dakota, Manitoba and Minnesota. In Polk
County, you can find populations of these orchids numbering in the
thousands. Populations ranging from a handful to several hundred can be
found in southern Minnesota.
These orchids bloom in late June or early July... The fringed-orchid is a
stout, erect, long-lived perennial, with simple, smooth leaves and a showy
spike of up to two dozen white blooms. The lower petal of each bloom is
deeply three-lobed and fringed. Flowers are 1 inch or more in size. They
have nectar spurs, which are more than 1 inch long. Average height of
flowering plants is 18 to 24 inches. The plant can be confused with the
smaller ragged fringed-orchid found in forested areas.
...
The western prairie fringed-orchid (Platanthera praeclara) is a perennial
that flowers erratically, and numbers decline precipitously during extended
drought. With ample rains last fall and more this spring, it should be a
good bloom season. They prefer moist tall-grass prairie but also can be
found in aspen parkland and meadow regions of northwestern Minnesota.
At dusk, the nectar gives off a rich honeysucklelike fragrance, attracting
pollinators, especially nocturnal hawk moths. ... More than 80 percent of
Minnesota's orchids grow in areas owned by the state or conservation
groups, such as in Polk County."
source : http://www.grandforks.com/mld/grandforks/news/12010239.htm
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Regards,
Viateur
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